Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The $137.8 million budget includes program and staff cuts and comes in at $460,067 less than last year's budget.
The Parkland school board unanimously approved a $137.8 million budget Tuesday night that raises taxes 3.67 percent, freezes teachers' salaries and cuts 60 teacher and staff positions. The district's millage will increase 1.46 mills, from 39.73 mills to 41.19 mills. That means a homeowner with a property assessed at the district average of $76,912 (half the market value) would pay $3,168 in property taxes, or $112 more than this year. Superintendent Richard Sniscak and Business Administration Director John Vignone said the district faced challenges, and uncertainties, in preparing the budget, including less state funding for school programs. The district also has cited other revenue losses, including from assessment appeals and the …
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/parkland-passes-budget-with-3-67-percent-tax-increase
1793534
/locations/7274722
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Stymied by stagnant revenue, Parkland is proposing to raise taxes 3.67 percent and cut 60 positions.
After months of budget talks, Parkland School Board Tuesday approved a proposed $137.8 million budget for 2012-2013 that raises taxes 3.67 percent while cutting 60 staff positions. The budget would increase the millage rate by 1.46 mills to 41.19 mills. That means a homeowner with property assessed at the district average of $76,912 would pay $3,168 in property taxes, or $112 more than this year. The board approved the proposed budget 7-0; the final budget will be voted on June 19. Going into Tuesday’s meeting, the district was still looking at a budget gap of $462,097. John Vignone, director of business administration, told board members they could use more of the district’s fund balance to close the gap, while efforts are made to …
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/parkland-oks-proposed-budget-tax-hike
1793534
/locations/7031040
Monday, May 7, 2012
Parkland School District found $391,028 more in reductions in athletic and activities budgets, more staff attrition and electricity costs but is asking support staff to accept pay freeze.
Parkland School District whittled a $853,000 gap in its proposed 2012-2013 budget down to $462,097 and is negotiating with district support staff for a wage freeze to help offset the rest. At a school board finance committee meeting this morning, John Vignone, director of business administration, told board members that some of the savings were found in reductions to activities and athletic budgets, more staff attrition and electricity costs. The proposed budget can only include a 1.46 mill increase in property taxes, which would bring the millage rate to 41.19 mills. That’s a 3.67 percent hike. At that rate an average homeowner with property assessed at $76,814 would pay $3,163 in taxes, or $112 more than this year. Parkland is permitted…
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/parkland-shrinks-budget-gap-seeks-wage-freeze-dcbcc4c6
1793534
/locations/6951980
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Parkland School District administration will seek a wage freeze from the district support staff as it looks for ways to help bridge a $853,000 budget gap for the 2012-2013 school year.
Even after projected staff and program cuts, Parkland School District officials must still bridge a $853,000 funding gap in its proposed 2012-2013 school budget and will seek a wage freeze from its support staff as part of its efforts, Superintendent Richard Sniscak said Friday at an all-day budget seminar. The district's teachers have already agreed to a wage freeze as part of contract negotiations. The district's administrators took a wage freeze for the current school year. With the state allowing a tax increase up to 3.67 percent, the district continues to face fiscal challenges to balance the budget, Sniscak told board members and fellow administrators. A preliminary budget passed in January carried a proposed 4.96 tax increase, above…
40.6121
-75.5757
South Whitehall Township Administrative Offices
4444 Walbert Ave., South Whitehall, Pa
/articles/parkland-needs-to-shave-budget-by-853-000
1635102
/locations/6716741
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The state Department of Education granted "exceptions" to the Parkland School District because of mandated expenditures, the district said.
The Parkland School District will be allowed to raise taxes up to 3.67 percent for the 2012-2013 school year, according to information provided at the Parkland School Board meeting on Tuesday. The district had applied to the state Department of Education for permission, or special exceptions, to raise taxes above the state-mandated Act 1 index of 1.7 percent because of costs outside of its control. The state designed the "exceptions" to help districts pay for such costs. Parkland had applied for exceptions related to escalating special education costs and fixed distributions to the Pennsylvania State Employee Retirement System. Both are mandated by the state. In January, the Parkland School Board approved a $138 million preliminary budget …
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/state-to-allow-parkland-to-raise-taxes-above-index
1793534
/locations/6629811
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
A Parkland administrator said the positions would be eliminated in adminstration, professional staff and support staff as a way to balance the 2012-2013 budget.
The Parkland School District is now considering a total of 63 staff cuts as it continues the challenging process of balancing the 2012-2013 school budget. Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman told the school board at its meeting Tuesday night that the cuts may happen as follows: With more than 30 people having announced their retirements, Troutman said many of the cuts will be through attrition. He said the administration is examining each open position to determine whether it will need to be filled next year or whether it can be eliminated. No new positions will be added next school year, he said. The number of possible staff cuts is higher than what was initially discussed a month ago. In February, Troutman put the number of possible …
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Parkland Superintendent says the final budget, to be approved in June, will possibly be less than the 2011-2012 budget.
The Parkland School Board approved a $138 million preliminary budget Tuesday night for the 2012-2013 school year that would require a 4.96 percent tax increase. However, school officials fully expect the tax increase to be reduced by June, when a final budget must be adopted. Superintendent Richard Sniscak said, “It is very possible that our budget for next year will be less than our current budget in order to stay within a 3.83 percent tax increase.” The preliminary budget represents an increase of .19 percent over last year’s budget. The district’s millage would increase 1.97 mills, from 39.73 mills to 41.70 mills. Parkland is struggling with the fact that interest rates are at historic lows, new construction is sluggish and commercial …
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/parkland-approves-138-million-preliminary-budget-for-2012-2013
1793534
/locations/6244981
Monday, January 9, 2012
A preliminary budget with a proposed 4.95 percent tax increase will be introduced later this month, though Parkland School District officials expect that number to come down.
- SCHOOLS
-
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Parkland School District's 2012-2013 budget remains in flux, but administrators must present a preliminary ledger to the full school board later this month. So, at Monday morning's district Personnel and Finance Committee meeting, Director of Business Administration John Vignone painted a picture of austerity as the process begins. A preliminary budget with a 4.95 percent tax increase will be proposed, according to Superintendent Richard Sniscak. "However, that will have to come down by June, and it will. By state mandate, the school district can raise taxes by 1.7 percent and go up to 3.83 percent with exceptions granted by the state. "Everything in our control is being looked at," Vignone said. However, without Gov. Tom Corbett's …
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/parkland-looks-at-possible-tax-hike-for-2012-13
1793534
/locations/6236051
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Parkland School District officials are bracing for another tough budget season as they prepare for the 2012-2013 school year.
Parkland School District officials are considering cuts in personnel, transportation and supplies as they prepare the 2012-2013 budget, Business Director John Vignone told the school board at its meeting Tuesday night. "We know there are going to be tough decisions, no doubt about it," Vignone said. Among the recommendations: The district also plans a spending freeze, beginning Feb. 1 The board will adopt its preliminary budget in January. Vignone said the value per mill is projected to stay constant, bringing in $2.3 million in revenue. But he said interest rates are at historic lows, new construction remains sluggish and commercial properties continue to appeal their assessments, which could result in lower tax contributions to the …
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/parkland-eyes-budget-cuts
1793534
/locations/6053370
Monday, November 7, 2011
School officials anticipate they will again face financial challenges as they prepare next year's budget.
Parkland School District officials distributed a tentative budget timeline for the 2012-2013 school year on Monday to the school board’s Personnel and Finance Committee. “We’re looking at everything with the idea that we need to have a balanced budget, and it’s not going to be an easy task,” Superintendent Richard Sniscak told the committee. Sniscak said he anticipates the district will face the same financial challenges as it did when preparing this year's budget. Like school districts elsewhere, Parkland has been dealing with state funding cuts and lower commercial property assessments. The district raised taxes 3.8 percent for the 2011-2012 school year, eliminated 60 positions, about half through attrition, and cut its behind-the-wheel …
40.60568
-75.545313
Parkland School District Administration Center
1210 Springhouse Rd, Allentown, PA
/articles/parkland-makes-public-tentative-budget-timeline
1793534
/locations/5757439
Parkland School District Taxpyer
8:29 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Serious cuts? What about the money they spend foolishly on new projectors in classrooms and tracking systems on the buses. Things like these are what is not needed. This 'high class district' needs to stop spending and stop cutting average workers jobs. Teachers need to stop complaining...they should work 12 months a year and contribute what 'the average person does for health insurance. . more ›